Puglia: The heel of Italy
2 Tours: April 9-19, 2024
10 Days / 9 Nights
9 nights four-star resorts, wine tasting, 8 lunches and dinners (some wine-paired), Michelin-rated restaurants, two half-day easy bike tours (one is optional) through the countryside, walking tours in 5 ancient villages, cooking class, winery visit and tasting, tour and olive oil tasting at 2,000-year- old olive grove, more.
Please read all the details below on the Details/Itinerary page AND the linked Puglia Logistics page for all details about all aspects of the tours.
Contact Morningstar See-Ski-Savor Tours directly at [email protected] or call us (520) 405-5508 with all your questions.
from @ $2,795
This is Puglia
Join Dan and Deb in one of their favorite places in Italy for a 10-day visit to this little-known spectacular region.
Bonus: Puglia (poo lee ah) is small and we will never have a drive longer than one hour and a half during the entire journey.
Puglia is a breath of fresh air… something completely unexpected… a balm for the spirit…a respite from the crowds …a break from the touristic… a rabbit hole which transports you back 30 years. Puglia is the heel of Italy. For those fortunate enough to visit, it connects to simpler times and a natural landscape that is increasingly difficult to find. No hype, no hordes of tourists… just natural wonders, great wine and food, and fascinating history.
In the Spring of 2022, 70 folks joined us in Puglia for our 9-day tour. It was a wonderful time and we believe that everyone fell in love with this region of Italy. We want to repeat Puglia in 2024 with you!
See below for the many exciting details of this Puglia journey. Take the time to read the descriptions of the itinerary. Be sure to look at the numerous linked photo galleries. If you do, you will understand our enthusiasm for this region Italy’s heel.
If you want to experience how Italy used to be, join us on our wine and food tasting journey through Puglia. It will be a journey you will never forget.
Included in this outstanding travel value:
AIR
LEAVE USA April 9, 2024 The nearest major airport to Bari is Rome FCO. Of course, you can route your air thru other cities, as you chose. But no matter, you MUST arrive into Bari, Italy on April 10, 2024 for your first hotel night of the tour. If you would like to arrive a day or two earlier to shake off the jet lag and recharge, we can arrange extra hotel nights at either our 4-star Excelsior Hotel or our 5-star luxury Bari hotel, upon request. You fly out of Bari any time on April 19, 2024. The LAST HOTEL NIGHT of the tour is April 18, 2024 in Bari.
NOTE: If you are flying into Rome, you can book 55 minute flights from FCO to Bari airport. CAVEAT/ WARNING: Make sure to get a flight that is non-stop! Otherwise, what should take an hour can take five hours. Plan carefully and accordingly. Further, there is a 3.5 hour train ride from Rome to Bari as well. Organinzing all your air to/from Bari is each participant’s responsibility. Please: pay attention to all the details and make sure your flights are on correct dates and that your flights mesh with each other.
DAY ONE April 10, 2024
Arrive in Bari
Arrive in Bari April 10, 2024 after your overnight flight from USA and check into your hotel. The Hotel Excelsior is a 4-star property near the lovely pedestrian shopping area. Opton: 5-star Albergo Della Nazioni, right on the seaside of the old port of Bari. Nights 1 and 9.
DAY TWO April 11, 2024
Monopoli
On our way to Masseria Cervarolo we will stop for a half-day visit at the ancient port town of Monopoli where we will have a wine-paired lunch at spectacular Piazza Palmieri Restaurante.
Masseria Cervarolo is located in a pastoral country setting and only 10 minutes from Ostuni. This property is a centuries-old farm/fortress that has been beautifully restored. Many of the rooms are trullis! Replete with a beautiful pool area and a Michelin-rated restaurant, Cervarolo is perfectly located and within short driving distances of all the sites we will visit.
First Afternoon: optional activity... Generous and tasty WINE TASTING with local Som, right at beautiful Cervarolo! This is a great opportunity to try some local wines from nearby vineyards with a really nice local som lady. The pours will be abundant and big. We will do this @5:30ish. You really do not want to miss this. $27 per person
On our second night at Masseria Cerverola, you will have a double-treat in store. First, a Puglian cooking class in the late afternoon. A 4-course wine-paired dinner at the Cervarolo’s Michilen-rated restaurant follows. Bonus: A local som will be there during the entire meal to share notes about each wine! As with our other masserias, we will be the only guests in the hotel…all ours,
DAY THREE April 12, 2024
Martina Franca / Locorotondo / Optional AM bike ride
Spend a morning exploring the ancient towns of Martina Franca (1 hour walking guided tour included) and Locorotondo. A wine-paired lunch overlooking a beautiful vista will be served. OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: For active, adept bike riders, we are offering a half-day bike ride thru the countryside in place of the city visits. It will include the same lunch as above. Added cost for transportation to starting point of ride, bike and guide: 90 euros.
DAY FOUR April 13, 2024
Lecce
Lecce: one of the best-preserved baroque cities in the world. Two-hour-walking tour followed by free time and lunch on your own.
Depart Lecce, visit a local vineyard and winery for a tasting at Cantine Paolo Leo winery on way home to Cervarolo.
DAY FIVE April 14, 2024
Easy Bike ride through countryside
Half-day bike ride, Parco della Dune Costiere… The ride takes us through the Ostuni countryside with panoramas of the Adriatic coast and the Puglian landscape with end point being the beach town of Tonne Canne. Electric bike upgrade available ($30). Easy ride with spectacular scenery! For lunch we will stop by a sea-side town for a buffet put on by a family-run La Limonaia.
After the ride and lunch, we will visit Masseria Brancati.
This masseria has olive trees that are over 2,300 years old! It has been in the same family for 8 generations. We will do a fascinating tour and olive oil tasting.
Then a special evening. After a freshen up break at our masseria, we will travel a short distance to Ostuni, where you will enjoy a exceptional dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Puglia. Best mussels we ever had!
DAY SIX April 15, 2024
Alberobello
Alberobello, a Unesco site. This town has more trulli per square foot than anywhere in the world. The guides were not available for a tour upon arrival. So you will have a free morning to explore the village and have lunch on your own. Then we will meet at 2 PM for the 1 hour walking tour with the guides.
After Alberobello, it is on to Alta Mura and our next masseria experience: Masseria Pitti, a farm/fortresses from the 1600s. Olive oil and wine was produced in caves under the properties. The defensive fortress-like estates were constructed to ward off pirate attacks.
Part of the group will be at Masseria Pitti as an upgrade. Those choosing to not upgrade will be at the 4-star Hotel Fuori in nearby Altamura.
Both properties are 10 minutes apart. The package includes the 4-star Hotel Fuori Le Mura in Altamura and the Pitti is an upgrade. Two of the included wine-paired dinners will be at the Pitti with the third being a 3-hour walking dinner tour in Altamura. Everyone will participate in all the Pitti activities, including the dinners. Our charter bus will provide the short rides needed between properties. Best of all: we will be the only people in the Pitti…all ours.
DAY SEVEN April 16, 2024
Gravina
A walking tour of this unique and historic village with underground olive oil and wine making facilities that date back many centuries. Then it is time for an optional amazing wine-paired lunch. Deb and Dan discovered Mamma Mia’s restaurant overlooking the ruins of Gravina and it was one of the best meals we had on our trip. You can join us at Mama Mia’s ($50) or explore on your own for lunch.
DAY EIGHT April 17, 2024
Matera
Get ready to be stunned. Matera, an ancient hilltop town that features 2,000-year-old cave homes under the modern city, will be our tour for the day. Free time to explore and have lunch. After some free relaxation time at the Pitti, you will be in for an extraordinary experience. Mattia, son of one of the owners of Pitti will guide us on a 3-hour walking dinner tour in Alta Mura. Prepare to eat more than you thought possible!
DAY NINE April 18, 2024
Bari
We leave the Pitti and Fuori to return to Bari. We will drop off our bags at your 4 star or 5 star hotel in Bari and proceed to the very cool old harbor part of the town. There are many shops, restaurants, and views to enjoy as you explore on your own. Stay as long as you like and do what you please. You will simply take a taxi back to the Nicolas hotel for your evening stay.
DAY TEN
Fly Home Day April 19, 2024
You will arrange your own taxi transport to the Bari airport for your return flight.
For all air details, UPGRADED room options and costs, deposit/cancellation details,
Testimonials
FROM PAST PUGLIA CLIENTS
This tour of the Puglia region is fantastic. From the great food and wine (not to mention great prices), to the beautiful accommodations and breathtaking countryside, I can say this tour is one not to miss. The planning and attention to detail by Dan and Deb is great! The daily schedule is well thought out including plenty of time for relaxing lunches and shopping. Every town and city was unique from each other, packed with its own history and beauty. Falling in love with this region is guaranteed, there’s not a thing not to like. You will also enjoy the hosts, Dan and Deb. Lots of fun and laughter are always included.
Puglia with Dan and Deb is truly amazing! They do a wonderful job of planning. Everything was covered! When any issue arose they were quick to address. And of course they made sure we had plenty of wine! Puglia was the best! The people are very welcoming, food first class and plentiful, sites beautiful…could not ask for more!
Had an amazing trip to Puglia Italy with Dan and Deb. Our hotels/Masserias were so amazing as was everything about the trip! Dave and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting an experience of a lifetime in Southern Italy!